Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Transgender Influencer Jaanmoni Das Arrested Over Alleged Modi Remarks
Police in Kozhikode arrested Jaanmoni Das, a transgender make-up artist and social media influencer.
They accused Das of making insulting remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Police said the remarks were shared in a video or post on social media.
The case began after a complaint from BJP Mahila Morcha leader Navya Haridas and other office bearers.
The reports give different descriptions of what the remarks were connected to: one mentions protests over a NEET question paper leak, while another mentions a protest at Jantar Mantar.
Das later posted an apology video.
She said she was not referring to Modi’s mother and had not meant to hurt anyone.
Police said the charges are bailable, and one report said she would receive station bail.
Kozhikode Cyber Police arrested transgender make-up artist and influencer Jaanmoni Das over alleged remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Police said the case followed a July 27 complaint from BJP Mahila Morcha state president Navya Haridas and other office bearers.
The remarks appeared in a social media video or post that police said was widely circulated.
Police charged Das under Sections 192 and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act.
Das apologised, saying she had not intended to insult Modi or his mother and had expressed herself poorly in Malayalam; the charges are bailable.
- Who
- Transgender influencer and make-up artist Jaanmoni Das was arrested by Kozhikode Cyber Police after a complaint from BJP Mahila Morcha leader Navya Haridas and other office bearers.
- What
- Das was arrested over allegedly derogatory social media remarks concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi and, according to police, his family.
- When
- The complaint was filed on July 27, and Das was arrested on Thursday, August 20, according to the reports.
- Where
- Kozhikode, Kerala, at the jurisdiction of Kozhikode City Cyber Police.
- Why
- Police alleged that the remarks insulted Modi and could cause unrest or disrupt public peace; the reports differ on whether they related to a NEET question-paper-leak protest or a protest at Jantar Mantar.
Police and Complainants’ Allegations
Das’s Explanation
Nature and intent of remarks
Police and Complainants’ Allegations
Police and the complaint alleged that Das made derogatory or defamatory remarks about Narendra Modi and his family, with an intention to cause unrest or disrupt public peace.
Das’s Explanation
Das apologised and said she was not referring to Modi’s mother, was asking a question rather than making remarks about Modi, and never intended to hurt anyone’s feelings.
Context of the remarks
Police and Complainants’ Allegations
One police account linked the remarks to protests over the NEET question paper leak, while another report connected them to a protest by the Bharatiya Janata Party and other organisations at Jantar Mantar.
Das’s Explanation
Das said she had expressed herself unclearly in Malayalam, later realised the statement was wrong after checking Google, and should have verified the facts.
Online circulation and arrests
Police and Complainants’ Allegations
Police said the material circulated widely on social media and that Das and two people who shared the video were summoned and arrested.
Das’s Explanation
The reports describe Das’s apology but do not provide a separate denial of the video’s circulation or the arrests of the two other people.
- Accused
- Jaanmoni Das, a transgender make-up artist and social media influencer
- Complaint
- Filed on July 27 by Navya Haridas, BJP Mahila Morcha state president, with other office bearers identified in one report
- Charges
- Sections 192 and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act
- Online material
- A video or social media post containing the alleged remarks was widely circulated
- Apology
- Das said she had not intended to refer to Modi’s mother or hurt anyone, and blamed unclear Malayalam expression and failure to verify facts
- Bail status
- Police said the offences are bailable; one report said Das would be released on station bail
- Police procedure
- Evidence collection and interrogation were under way at the station
